Post by muppetstakethefarm on Jan 10, 2014 12:12:05 GMT -5

I think for USA, much like the juniors, a good pool play is going to be key. The loss to canada put them in a tough matchup in the quarters and the other side of the bracket was easier but certainly Canada earned that spot. I'm hoping for gold and could see any one of the four favorites get it without surprise. Just want to see them make the gold medal game because after coming so close last time, I could see them come out flat in a bronze medal game and get nothing.

Post by Boner on Jan 10, 2014 22:51:37 GMT -5

I think for USA, much like the juniors, a good pool play is going to be key. The loss to canada put them in a tough matchup in the quarters and the other side of the bracket was easier but certainly Canada earned that spot. I'm hoping for gold and could see any one of the four favorites get it without surprise. Just want to see them make the gold medal game because after coming so close last time, I could see them come out flat in a bronze medal game and get nothing.

Post by funkybuttlovin on Jan 11, 2014 2:55:31 GMT -5

I think for USA, much like the juniors, a good pool play is going to be key. The loss to canada put them in a tough matchup in the quarters and the other side of the bracket was easier but certainly Canada earned that spot. I'm hoping for gold and could see any one of the four favorites get it without surprise. Just want to see them make the gold medal game because after coming so close last time, I could see them come out flat in a bronze medal game and get nothing.

Post by Boner on Jan 11, 2014 9:17:59 GMT -5

I think people are putting too much stock into Russia selecting so few NHLers, and having "weak" D. This is international hockey, and the KHL is no joke. On top of that, home ice is going to be huge.

Doubt it. They are weak in D and they won't be able to hold off Sweden and Canada when they pressure. The advantage may be the wider ice for Russia but they will be shut down.

Kovalchuk, Datzuk, Ovechkin, Malkin. I'd say Crosbey is better than a 4. Nobody else comes to mind. Throw Markov on the powerplay with those 4, and you have one of the most potent offensive lines in the history of the game (ONE of the most, not THE most.). Andrei Markov is a VERY big reason Subban won the Norris, and made team canada. Then there's Emilen who is grossly underrated. If you look at the Habs record with him in the line up, and then their record when he was out of the lineup with his knee injury, it's staggering. And Voynov is no slouch. Playing in Doughtys shadow in L.A, he's world class and arguably the best Dmsn under 25 years old. If Bobrovski gets hot, it's going to be really tough to beat this team!

Post by muppetstakethefarm on Jan 11, 2014 14:25:23 GMT -5

I fully respect the Russians. They will probably have the greatest chemistry of the better teams, for whatever that is worth. As Boner stated above though, in any form of tournament hockey, a hot goalie is the great equalizer.

Post by muppetstakethefarm on Jan 11, 2014 14:33:07 GMT -5

...but when you project the medal games above, my point still stands as to how valuable pool play will be. US will play Russia in pool play. What if it's USA vs Canada in semis and Russia vs Sweden on the other side? Or Russia vs Canada in semis and USA vs Sweden or Fins etc. on the other side. It only takes one upset in the quarters to throw the whole bracket in the trash and there are multiple teams outside the most mentioned that are capable of winning one game in the quarters (fins, Czech, Slovakia)

Post by Boner on Jan 11, 2014 14:37:54 GMT -5

...but when you project the medal games above, my point still stands as to how valuable pool play will be. US will play Russia in pool play. What if it's USA vs Canada in semis and Russia vs Sweden on the other side? Or Russia vs Canada in semis and USA vs Sweden or Fins etc. on the other side. It only takes one upset in the quarters to throw the whole bracket in the trash and there are multiple teams outside the most mentioned that are capable of winning one game in the quarters (fins, Czech, Slovakia)

That's pretty valid. I'm just expecting the worst, being the Russians to play flawlessly

Post by LD on Jan 11, 2014 17:20:58 GMT -5

I fully respect the Russians. They will probably have the greatest chemistry of the better teams, for whatever that is worth. As Boner stated above though, in any form of tournament hockey, a hot goalie is the great equalizer.

Post by Hakuna on Jan 11, 2014 17:32:33 GMT -5

I fully respect the Russians. They will probably have the greatest chemistry of the better teams, for whatever that is worth. As Boner stated above though, in any form of tournament hockey, a hot goalie is the great equalizer.

Unless the Fins got anyone better than Rask, they're out right now.

Antti Niemi. I'd actually imagine tonight's game could actually help decide who gets the job.